Nebraska Crime Statistics

46 years of data (1979–2024)

Key Insights

  • →Nebraska ranks #40 out of 51 states for violent crime rate (220.5 per 100K).
  • →Violent crime decreased 5.2% from 2023 to 2024.
  • →67 cities report crime data. Safest: Papillion (33.9/100K). Most dangerous: Scottsbluff (588.0/100K).
  • →42 murders in 2024 — a rate of 2.1 per 100K residents.
  • →Since 1979, Nebraska's violent crime rate has changed by -2%.
Violent Crime Rate
220.5
-5.2% YoY
Murder Rate
2.1
42 total
Property Crime Rate
1626.7
32,622 total
Population
2,005,465
2024

2024 Crime Breakdown

Violent Crime: 4,423

Murder42
Rape872
Robbery411
Aggravated Assault3,098

Property Crime: 32,622

Burglary3,111
Larceny-Theft24,445
Motor Vehicle Theft5,066

Violent Crime Rate Trend

Homicide Rate Trend

Violent Crime Breakdown (2024)

Most Dangerous Cities

CityViolent RatePopulation
Scottsbluff588.015,306
Omaha369.0480,235
Grand Island367.752,488
Lincoln347.9295,808
Hastings318.424,815
Kearney301.234,525
Norfolk202.026,234
South Sioux City181.113,801
Fremont180.127,767
North Platte148.222,268

Safest Cities

CityViolent RatePopulation
Papillion33.923,597
La Vista49.416,205
Beatrice81.512,272
Columbus85.424,595
Bellevue99.263,510
Lexington128.810,867
North Platte148.222,268
Fremont180.127,767
South Sioux City181.113,801
Norfolk202.026,234

Crime Velocity — Which Cities Are Changing Fastest

Fastest Improving

North Platte-53.5
Beatrice-36.7
Lincoln-21.9

Fastest Worsening

Scottsbluff+29.9
Columbus+2.6

Velocity scores measure the direction and speed of crime changes. Negative = improving, positive = worsening. Full methodology →

Hate Crimes in Nebraska

51 incidents reported

Top bias motivations: Sexual Orientation (5)
Explore full hate crime data →
All StatesSafest Cities in NebraskaMost Dangerous in NebraskaCompare CitiesArrest DataHate Crimes

Arrest Demographics (National)

The FBI publishes state-level total arrest counts but does not break down arrest demographics by race at the state level in the same detail as national data. For national arrest demographic patterns, see our dedicated pages:

National Arrest Demographics →Racial Disparities Analysis →Crime by Race →Who Commits Crime? →

Related Analysis

The Great Crime Decline →Rural vs Urban Crime →Police Funding & Crime →Compare States Tool →

More for Nebraska

Nebraska Report Card →Compare with Other States →Safest Cities in Nebraska →
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Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer. Rates per 100,000 residents. City data from Table 8.